THE LITTLE HOUSE MUSICAL
This weekend Katherine and I traveled to Minneapolis to see the LHOP musical twice at the magnificent Guthrie Theater. We were knocked out. The show builds its plot around the premise that Laura is a willful “wild child” who embraces self sacrifice and learns the important lesson that love and connectedness is the source of life’s greatest happiness and freedom.
It was great to see my Laura on stage as Caroline. While Melissa is a newcomer to the musical theater she came through huge, creating the show’s seminal emotional moment in the closing measures of “Wild Child”. There were tears all around. My old West Side Story buddy, Steve Blanchard as “Pa”, captured the wandering spirit of Charles and sang beautifully as the leader of the Ingalls family. But the show belongs to Laura, Mary, Nellie Oleson, and Almanzo…with very strong support from a very spunky and funny Carrie. The character focus of the musical is just as Laura Ingalls Wilder intended it…on the children. The show’s most memorable song — I’ll Be Your Eyes — is sung by Laura and Mary after Mary goes blind. Its terrific.
As in the series, the tension between Laura and Nellie in the musical is pivotal and its set up very effectively as the Ingalls girls prepare to enter school for the first time. Nellie is a worthy antagonist…funny and self absorbed but ultimately resigned when Laura and Almanzo become husband and wife.
Ah yes…Almanzo. At the Guthrie Kevin Massey plays Almanzo with a quiet confidence and focus that is heroic and compelling. His songs reveal his character in a way that Little House readers will love. The dynamic between the Laura and Almanzo absolutely works and that’s why the show pays off in such a satisfying way in the end.
Those who saw it know…those who haven’t will definitely want to beginning in the summer of 2009. All comments are most welcome.
Dean
October 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the musical. I had planned to go and see it with my friend Diva Beth, but just couldn’t part with the cost of plane fare for a 4 day trip. She loved it though from what I hear. I bet you had a great time watching Melissa and remembering old times.
Do you know where it is heading in 2009?
Marilyn
October 20th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Dean, you said it perfectly. I laughted, cried, and sometimes did both at the same time! I got my hugs from Uncle Charlie, Almanzo and my Little Laura - now Aunt Caroline! When I tried to describe the play to friends, all I could say was “AWESOME”. I was priviledged to spend over a half hour backstage with the whole cast, and when I left we were like family. Such a grand group of people! If a tour brings them anywhere near me in the future, I will definitely see it again, especially if it is the same cast!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:05 am
It sounds wonderful and what I heard from Diva Beth it must have been an awesome experience.
Dean - honestly - would you like to be part of it - probably as Pa Ingalls?
I really would like to see the musical and envy those who already did, but I doubt it will come to Europe.
Maybe it will be available on cd/dvd one day. Dean, can you do something to let this happen??????
Diva Martha
October 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Martha:
I think there’s a very good chance that the Little House musical could come to Europe. The show is worthy of a global audience.
Dean
October 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Wow, that would be great and very appreciated by all german fans of Little House.
We are keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to it.
Diva Martha
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Dean,
I’m pleased to hear that you and Katherine enjoyed the musical not once, but twice! What a wonderful way to keep the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder alive and well. It’s sad that Patrick Swayze, due his health battle was unable to reprise the role of Pa that he played in the developmental workshop presentations last year. Nevertheless - I am sure that Steve Blanchard did a wonderful job and my thoughts and prayers go to Patrick.
I hope the musical’s popularily will be large enough to justify a tour here in Australia.
Carolyn
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Sounds wonderful! I hope to have the chance to see it.
Was it strange at all seeing Melissa as Ma and another person playing Almanzo?
Cheryl
October 24th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Dean, Hey! It’s John Bass here! I am so very glad you and Katherine were able to see it, and twice! I DO UNDERSTAND WHY! I myself, saw it more than twice, in just two days! I saw it 3 times, and I attended the workshop, which was great and I learned alot, behind the scenes stuff!
Not to mention, got to hang out at the great little restaurant across the street, that Melissa enjoyed regularly, while living there in Minneapolis…the THAI food restaurant called Kin Dee, and Bruce was there too that weekend! If you look at my MYSPACE page, there’s lots of pix during this weekend…it’s MySpace.com/ingallswilderlane. Anyway, I say this, THERE IS NO WAY TO DESCRIBE THE WAY I FELT ABOUT THIS MUSICAL…it was THE BEST I have ever seen! Priceless! I STAYED in AWE at everything and in every moment, esp. anytime Melissa was present. NO ONE can be more maticulous about any thing pertaining to acurrancy pertaining to “Little House” and Laura’s history than I…but I said to eveyone, no matter what they did…THEY REALLY DID, A GREAT JOB! I over looked any changes in detail…but I was alittle saddened by leaving out GRACE, their last child. (Her feelings would be hurt.) Their voices was so very rich, and gave me chills…like you all, I laughed, but mostly cried all the way long…I told people, this is like “my family”…this is who I am and what I do everyday! I mainly cover anything and everything to do with Laura and her family. Thanks for your time…and see you soon! P.S. It would be awesome if your ‘Legacy’ could produce the DVD of the musical one day. Any thoughts? Great idea! And, I am going wherever the musical goes! They have my support 100%! - John Bass (Ingalls-Wilder-Lane Historic Alliance) Shreveport, LA
October 24th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
HI Dean,
I am glad you liked the show ! And you have the “pro” eye ! By the way what part did you do in “West Side Story” ?
I guess you have seen the very last performance of “Little house”… Was it special ?? Was there a huge party after ?? I’m sure everybody was very emotionnal.
So, you and Katherine, Alison, Katherine MacGregor, Richard Bull have made the trip to applause Melissa and her co-stars in the musical (I don’t know if Karen could attend ?) !!! I think that’s great and tells a lot about your connection together.
I really hope I will have the opportunity to see the show one day, if it comes nearer to Montreal. But I wonder if Melissa will reprise her role as “Ma” if a tour is planned next year. I’d love to see her performance.
Have a nice weekend,
Eric
March 21st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I am enjoying that dean Butler is still taking a interest in little House. i started watching little house in Sept 2008 with my 10 and 7 yr old and I love it better now than I did as a kid. I wish Dean had more of a website and pictures of how he is doing. I love him as Almanzo and nobody will ever replace him.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I am enjoying that dean Butler is still taking a interest in little House. i started watching little house in Sept 2008 with my 10 and 7 yr old and I love it better now than I did as a kid. I wish Dean had more of a website and pictures of how he is doing. I love him as Almanzo and nobody will ever replace him. Brenda